Category Archives: Assault

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Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 2nd District, responded to the intersection of Rockville Pike and Grosvenor Lane around 6:43 p.m. on May 12, 2019, for several reports of a man in the roadway wielding a knife.

Officers encountered the man who had a blanket wrapped around his head, swinging a knife and approaching motorists at the intersection. It appeared the man was having a severe, possibly psychotic, episode and was extremely delusional. Officers evaluated the situation, set up a perimeter and blocked traffic while the encounter unfolded. Officers attempted to establish a dialogue with the man while maintaining a safe perimeter.

When several attempts to de-escalate the situation waned, the man was tased and taken into custody safely and without injury to both the man and the officers. The man was taken to a local hospital for evaluation where he revealed to the officers he had a history of mental illness and had taken amphetamines prior to the incident.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit have charged George McGrath IV, age 55, of the 3000 block of Regina Drive in Silver Spring, with causing abuse to his 85-year-old father.

On Monday, April 15, detectives were contacted by Montgomery County Adult Protective Services (APS) about possible elder abuse that had occurred a week prior. Investigators responded to a local hospital and met with the victim while he was being treated for injuries.

The investigation by detectives determined that McGrath IV is the primary caretaker for the victim and that several days prior, McGrath IV had assaulted the victim multiple times while the two were in the victim’s home. During the assault, the victim sustained a head injury and was bleeding. McGrath IV made no attempt to summon medical aid for the victim.

The investigation further determined that a few days after the assault had occurred, friends who were concerned for the victim had responded to his home to check on him. The friends stated to detectives that they observed a cut on the victim’s head and that he had extensive bruising about his arms and head. The victim told the friends that McGrath IV had assaulted him a few days prior. The victim’s friends immediately took the victim to a local hospital for treatment. The victim’s friends further reported to detectives that they observed that the interior of the victim’s home was not being maintained and that there was minimal food in the refrigerator.

On Tuesday, April 16, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for McGrath IV, charging him with one count of vulnerable adult abuse of a family member, reckless endangerment, and second-degree assault. McGrath IV was arrested that same day and transported to the Central Processing Unit where he was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division have arrested a Germantown man for Attempted 1st Degree Murder and additional charges related to an incident that occurred on April 15, 2019, in Germantown.

On April 15, the suspect, identified as Zain Imdad, age 28. of Germantown, entered a residence in the 14000 block of Jump Drive in Germantown, where the female adult victim was residing. The victim had a protective order against Imdad, with whom she had a previous relationship. Imdad proceeded to take the victim and other family members within the household hostage, threatening them with a handgun. Imdad was allegedly distraught over the ending of the relationship with the victim, and informed the victim and other family members that he was going to kill everyone if the victim did not reconcile the relationship. Imdad also told the victim and family that he would kill them if the police showed up and then shoot the police. One of the family members was able to notify police of the incident via the Emergency Communications Systems (911).

Officers from the 5th District responded and evaluated the situation. Though facing an armed suspect threatening to kill the victim and family, officers placed themselves in peril by making immediate entry and confronting Imdad, who was now holding the victim with a knife to her throat. Officers were able to wrestle the weapon away from Imdad, arrest him, and free the victim and her family.

Zain Imdad Equipment

Further investigation found that Imdad had brought a backpack with him to the residence containing a suicide intention note, a black replica handgun, a fixed blade knife, duct tape, five pairs of handcuffs, para-cord, and bottles containing an unknown substance. Imdad had told the victim and family that we was planning to kill them then drink poison. The substance in the bottles was removed and being analyzed for their content.

Without the assistance of the family members and the immediate action by the responding officers, the outcomes achieved during this incident could have been very different.

Zain Imdad was charged with the following:

Attempted 1st Degree Murder (5 counts)

Attempted 2nd Degree Murder (5 counts)

1st Degree Assault (5 counts)

2nd Degree Assault (5 counts)

Home Invasion

Violation of a Protection Order

Reckless Endangerment (5 counts)

Carrying a Concealed Dangerous Weapon

Possession of a Dangerous Weapon w/ Intent to Injure

Detectives are asking that anyone with additional information regarding Zain Imdad, should contact the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.

Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District, have arrested two men from Germantown for an assault and robbery that occurred over the weekend.

On April 13, the victim was walking in the area of the 18000 block of Cottage Garden Drive in Germantown. The victim, who was wearing a red, Make America Great Again hat, was approached by two men who began harassing the victim and asking why he was wearing the MAGA hat. The victim told the suspects that he was entitled to his own views and kept walking away from the suspects. The suspects began striking the victim and telling him to take the hat off. The victim continued to be struck by the suspects until he fell to the ground. The suspects then removed property from the victim, and destroyed items of value. The suspects then fled the scene.

Officers from the 5th District responded to the area to assist the victim and search for the suspects. Officers spotted the two suspects attempting to hide among a group of children playing basketball. The suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Central Processing Unit where they were charged accordingly. The suspects and their charges are listed below:

Jovan Crawford

Jovan Crawford, age 27, of the 700 block of Clopper Road in Germantown was charged with the following:

Robbery

Conspiracy to Commit Robbery

Attempt Theft $100 to Under $1500

2nd Degree Assault

Malicious Destruction of Property / Value Less than $1000

Scott Roberson

Scott Duncan Roberson, age 25, of the 1600 block of V St., NW, Washington DC, was charged with the following:

Robbery

Conspiracy to Commit Robbery

Attempt Theft $100 to Under $1500

2nd Degree Assault

Detectives from the 5th District Investigative Section continue to investigate this incident. Anyone with additional information should contact detectives at 240-773-6237.

The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th and 6th District Investigative Sections, have charged Muhammad Taha, age 29, of the 23300 block of Observation Drive in Clarksburg, with crimes related to two incidents occurring in Germantown and Gaithersburg. The same individual was arrested in Prince William County, Virginia, and charged with 2nd Degree Murder, Felony Hit & Run, and other charges for events that occurred on March 24, 2019, in the Manassas area.

On March 22, 2019, officers from the 6th District responded to the Islamic Center of Maryland Mosque located at 19411 Woodfield Road in Gaithersburg, for the report of an injured person. Investigation revealed that the victim was walking on the property when he was struck by a vehicle which then fled the area. The victim was taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Surveillance footage was able to capture parts of the incident. A description of the vehicle and evidence was recovered on the scene.

On March 24, 2019, officers from the 5th District responded to the Islamic Society of Germantown located at 19825 Blunt Road in Germantown, for the report of a suspicious situation. Investigation revealed a vehicle had been seen circling the parking lot before the driver exited the vehicle and used a brick to vandalize a parked vehicle in the lot. The driver then drove away from the scene after striking an additional parked car.

Later in the day on March 24, 2019, the same suspect struck and killed a woman with his vehicle in the area of the 9600 block of Cloverhill Road, in Manassas, Virginia. Prince William County Police, based off of a lookout placed by the Manassas City Police, were able to find the vehicle and suspect matching the description of the homicide nearby. Muhammad Taha was arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Murder, Felony Hit & Run and other charges related to the incident.

Detectives from the 5th and 6th District Investigative Sections have now connected all the events to Muhammed Taha. Taha has been charged with following offenses:

CR 2-206 Attempted 2nd Degree Murder

CR 3-202 1st Degree Assault

CR 6-301 Malicious Destruction of Property (2 counts)

Representatives of all six police districts have been in communication with the Mosques within Montgomery County since the initial event occurred.

Detectives believe these are isolated events related directly to Taha who remains in the Prince William County Adult Detention Center on a no bond status.

The Montgomery County Department of Police wish to thank the Manassas City Police Department and the Prince William County Police for their assistance with this case.